A Severed Head
Books

A Severed Head

by Iris Murdoch

1961•Drama•248 pages

Taste attributes: dramaromanceslowfresh & originalheavyrealisticlinearenclosedemotive & stirringcomplex relationshiptroubled leadsself destruction/implosion

See which match your taste

Boxlist takeAn original, grounded novel: moving and contained. Best if you like surprises over comfort.

Taste details

Open Library rating

4.2 / 5

5 ratings

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About This Book

Martin Lynch-Gibbon believes he can possess both a beautiful wife and a delightful lover. But when his wife, Antonia, suddenly leaves him for her psychoanalyst, Martin is plunged into an intensive emotional re-education. He attempts to behave beautifully and sensibly. Then he meets a woman whose demonic splendour at first repels him and later arouses a consuming and monstrous passion.

Description: Open Library

Characteristics

Where this book sits on each taste spectrum

SlowPACEFast
FamiliarORIGINALITYOriginal
DarkTONEWholesome
LightWEIGHTINESSHeavy
FantasyREALISMRealistic
SimpleINTRICACYIntricate
Non-LinearLINEARITYLinear
UnderstatedSTYLEStylised
IntimateSCALEEpic
RestrainedEMOTIONIntense

Genres and themes

DramaRomanceComplex relationshipTroubled leadsSelf destruction/implosion

Subjects

Man-woman relationshipsRelationshipsLoveMarriageFriends and loversInterpersonal relationsSocial life and customs

Details

Author
Iris Murdoch
Published
1961
Pages
248
Taste scores
How we score
Source
Open Library

How book matches work

Books are scored on the same ten characteristics as films and matched with the same formula and your own match bands. Book scores are estimates, made from Open Library subjects and descriptions plus an AI reading.

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